Mission

The Promotional Products Education Foundation is organized to foster education for promotional products industry employees and their dependents by providing financial assistance through scholarships for pursuing educational opportunities.

 

History

The Promotional Products Education Foundation traces its roots back to the Carl E. Rosenfeld Education Foundation formed in 1978 by employees of the Walter W. Cribbins Co. as a birthday gift to their boss. Responsibility for that effort shifted in 1980 to the Specialty Advertising Association International. In 1986 it was again transferred, this time into the capable hands of the CAS/MAS Alumni Association. CAS/MAS was responsible for much of the infrastructure and groundwork on which today's Foundation stands. It was under the CAS/MAS Alumni Association, that the first scholarship winners were announced. In 1989, the SAAI (now Promotional Products Association International) Board agreed that the Foundation should be an Association-supported entity. The organization became the Promotional Products College Education Foundation in 1993 and in 2004, the Board of Trustees voted to add special needs scholarships to its core purpose of awarding college scholarships. The organization's name was changed to the Promotional Products Education Foundation to better represent this expanded educational focus.

 

Important Dates

1989 - The first Four-Year Scholarships were awarded to six recipients. The awards were for $2,000 with $500 payments received for four years.

1998 - The Chairman's Scholarships were added. Two recipients received the $5,000 awards, receiving $2,500 for both their junior and senior years of college.

2000 - The amount awarded for the Four-Year Scholarships increased to $4,000 with $1,000 payments per year for four years. Eligibility for the scholarship program was expanded to include industry employees rather than just their dependents.

2004 - Special Needs Scholarships for educational resources to recover from an accident-related physical disability were added. The name of the organization was changed to the Promotional Products Education Foundation to reflect the expanded mission.

2009 - Total amount of college scholarships awarded reached $742,000.

 

Board of Trustees

PPEF is governed by an 18-member Board of Trustees. The trustees are volunteers from the promotional products industry and serve three-year terms. Many of the trustees have been active volunteers within the industry giving their time and talents to the PPAI Board of Directors, Regional Association Council and other industry committees and organizations.

 

Roni Wright, MAS, Chair
The Book Company

 

Wayne Greenberg, MAS, Immediate Past Chair     
JB of Florida, Inc.                              

Robin Quinn, Chair Elect
Norwood Promotional Products

 

G. Stephen Slagle, CAE, Secretary/Treasurer
Promotional Products Association International

 

Sherri Lennarson, MAS, Immediate Past PPAI Chair
Bankers Advertising Co.

 

Tom Carrico, CAS
Gill Studios, Inc.

 

Alan Christopher, MAS
DAC Marketing

 

Christopher Duffy, MAS

BAG MAKERS

 

Dolly Duffy, CAS
Notre Dame Alumni Association

 

Eric Ekstrand, MAS
The Mort C. McClennan Co.

 

Mel Ellis

Humphrey Line, Inc.

 

Laura Forbes, MAS

Zebra Marketing

 

Kippie Helzel, MAS

CPS/Keystone

 

Steve Levschuk, MAS

Talbot Marketing

 

Brandon Mackay, MAS

SnugZ USA

 

Tina Montgomery, MAS

L.W. Barrett Co.

 

Ira Neaman

Vantage Apparel

 

Marc Simon
HALO/Lee Wayne